Editor’s note: Sen. Paull Shin issued the following statement on his vote on Senate Bill 6239 to allow same-sex marriage.

I want to thank you for your understanding during these past weeks as I considered my vote on Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage equality. My office has received hundreds of phone calls, e-mails, and letters, and I know that this is a very important issue to many of you in the 21st district. As your senator, there is no question that you deserve to know the reasoning behind my vote on this bill. Read the full story

Sen. Paull Shin is supporting Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal to ask the voters to increase the state sales tax in order to offset the drastic cuts that would be necessary to balance the state budget. But he is concerned that the increase doesn’t go far enough.

Shin, D-Edmonds, said that in the 43 years he has lived in Washington, the state has never experienced such an unprecedented economic downturn. “We are in an emergency situation,” Shin said. “If we are going to increase the sales tax, let’s do so in a way that truly has an impact on education, public safety, and social services.”

Last Saturday, after attending the White House dinner in Washington, D.C., to honor President of the Republic of South Korea Lee Myung-Bak, Sen. Paull Shin rushed back to Seattle to attend Northwest Asian Weekly’s Pioneer Awards gala at the China Harbor Restaurant.

What the emcee didn’t say and what the audience didn’t know was that Shin was involved in a car accident before he arrived. He hit a concrete wall. Shin was fine, besides being a little dizzy.

The damage to his car is estimated at $10,000. I suspect that he was exhausted after a hectic trip.

Shin could have skipped the Pioneer Awards dinner with a good reason. But he didn’t.

He had committed to coming and watching two of his good friends, John Kwak and Kenny Lee, receive their Asian American Pioneer Awards. Shin’s promises are golden. Read the full story

My fellow citizens, I write to you today about a revenue proposal that could help protect public services that we all rely on.

As you know, we are dragging ourselves out of the deepest recession this country has ever seen. My first day in the legislature was almost two decades ago, so I remember well how many times you have heard the cries from us down in Olympia about the deep and painful cuts we have been forced to make to government services. Read the full story

Cindy Ryu took the oath of office and officially became the state representative for the 32nd Legislative District, which includes Shoreline, Kenmore, Edmonds, and other communities in North King and South Snohomish County. Read the full story

The 2010 primary election took place on Aug. 17. The top two candidates who earned the most votes in the primary will move forward to the general election in November. Seven Asian Americans (out of 94 candidates) were able to move forward. Read the full story

It’s safe to say that there’s a shortage of Asians in government-related jobs, but here are some candidates who might change that. From senator hopefuls to judge contenders, here are the Asians in Washington running for office in 2010. Read the full story

Consul General Mitsunori Namba (left) with state Sen. Paull Shin at the Consulate General of Japan’s annual holiday party in Seattle on Dec. 11 (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of the emperor of Japan. It follows on the heels of the 50th wedding anniversary of Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Dec. 23 is also Akihito’s birthday. In honor of these occasions, the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle celebrated during its annual holiday party. About 250 people attended the event held at the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Read the full story